860C.00/4–1646
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Under Secretary of State (Acheson)
| Participants: | Mr. J. Balfour of the British Embassy; |
| Mr. Dean Acheson, Under Secretary of State; and | |
| Mr. C. B. Elbrick, Assistant Chief, Division of Eastern European Affairs. |
Mr. Balfour called to present a note9 expressing the British Government’s views regarding the present political situation in Poland and recent actions of the Polish Government indicating the latter’s apparent intention to ignore or evade its commitments regarding Polish elections. Mr. Balfour in presenting the note referred particularly to the proposal to hold a referendum this summer which it is felt may be intended to take the place of elections. He also referred to the repressive activities of the Polish Secret Police, the replacement of Kapelinski, Polish Director of Posts and Telegraphs and member of the Polish Peasant Party (Mikolajczyk) by a member of the communist dominated Peasant Party, and to the rumor that the late Wincenty Witos, formerly Vice President of the National Council and member of the Polish Peasant Party, would be similarly replaced by a member of the communist clique. He said that Great Britain had no further levers to use in forcing the Polish Government to live up to its commitments and said that he was not sure that we had any such [Page 424] levers either. However, he said that the British Government feels that drastic action on the part of the British and American Governments is necessary if rule by the communist minority in Poland, which is becoming more apparent each day, is to be avoided.
Mr. Balfour was informed that the Department has had this matter under study for some time and that it had authorized Ambassador Lane at Warsaw to make representations to the Polish Foreign Office regarding the removal of Mr. Kapelinski. Ambassador Lane had not yet had an opportunity to discuss this matter with Mikolajczyk and had not made any such representations, but had recommended, following recent conversations with the British Ambassador, that no action be taken until the two ambassadors could formulate proposals with regard to other disturbing phases of political activities in Poland. Mr. Balfour was informed that Ambassador Lane had not yet submitted these recommendations.
Mr. Balfour then went on to say that the British Government proposed that strong representations be made regarding the points raised above; namely, the dismissal of Kapelinski, the failure to replace Witos by a member of the Polish Peasant Party and that the Polish Government be called up [upon] to disband the Ministry of Public Security (which controls the Secret Police), and that its duties be taken over by the Ministry of Public Administration. The view was expressed to Mr. Balfour that any such recommendation regarding the Ministry of Public Security could only be looked upon by the Polish Government as undue interference in the country’s internal affairs and that it would stand little, if any, chance of success.
Mr. Balfour was also informed that this matter would receive the earnest attention of the Department in the immediate future and that, depending upon developments and recommendations from Warsaw, some appropriate action would probably be taken in the near future. It was stated that the British Embassy would be kept currently informed of all developments in connection with this matter.
Mr. Balfour also left a note10 requesting the views of the American Government regarding the possibility of accepting a certain proportion of members of the Polish army now serving in Italy. Mr. Balfour was told that the immigration laws which governed entry of aliens into the United States fixed a definite quota which cannot be exceeded in the case of Poles or any other nationality, and that any immigration over and above that quota would have to be authorized by Congress. He was told, however, that this matter would also receive early attention of the appropriate officers of the Department.